too much $$$ as far as I am concerned - hope he checks his ego at the door and agrees to less ice time and a limited offensive role - let the kids like Lundmark get the ice time they need to develop.......and the Flyers inked Gagne - wonder who's $$$ was better spent......

waaaayyyy too much money. I realize that Messier is an icon in New York and one of the great Rangers of recent memory but his skills have declined to a point where not even his legendary will and determination can carry him. I hate to see once great players carry on to the bitter end, regardless of the fact that they are tarnishing their legacy (see: Coffey, Paul) and wish Mess had accepted a front-office or coaching position rather than lace 'em up again.

Simon Gagne, on the other hand, is one of the bright young talents in the game. I remember watching him play for Canada in the World Junior Championships a few years back and even then you could tell that he was going to be something special. The Flyers were smart to lock him up.

Messier can still be that leader but he cannot back it up on the ice anymore. He said himself that he will get less time on the ice and let's hope that it will happen that way.

The reason I believe he will play for another year and maybe even one after that is because he is that damn close to Gordy Howe's point scoring total..He is within 80 points, maybe 70 (I forgot) and if he can get lucky two seasons he will pass him.

Now Slats has gone and given Dvorak and his gimpy knee a two year deal with base salary at $3.6m ($1.6m/$2m) with incentives that could hit $5m - he's a good player with a lot of promise but the NYR still need a quality LW

The skates hit the ice up in Burlington at 8am - I look forward to the updates on Ranger Fan Central

I've been a Rangers fan since they hoisted the Cup, but I thought last year should have been Mark's last. It was time to make the team someone else's - maybe Eric, maybe not - and having him around just stalls that process. Great player, but he isn't going to help them get to the playoffs, and he's not going to help them get through the playoffs, leadership and experience be damned. He doesn't have the skills to back it up anymore, the way an Yzerman or Larionov still does.

Originally posted by JubukiI've been a Rangers fan since they hoisted the Cup, but I thought last year should have been Mark's last. It was time to make the team someone else's - maybe Eric, maybe not - and having him around just stalls that process. Great player, but he isn't going to help them get to the playoffs, and he's not going to help them get through the playoffs, leadership and experience be damned. He doesn't have the skills to back it up anymore, the way an Yzerman or Larionov still does.

I don't know that Messiers skills are that bad. Hes not worth that kind of payday, but hes still good, and leadership means a lot. Yzerman and Larionov are not good examples of skill back up, at least not too much anymore (2,3, or 5 years ago, I'd be right with you) Of course, the only players I really like on that team are Robitaille and Cujo.